HYDERABAD: With a sole aim to get a sneak preview of the blueprint for the new capital and suggest final changes in it, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Naidu is expected to leave for Singapore on Sunday night for a one-day tour in the island nation.
According to sources, the chief minister during his stay in Singapore will discuss details of the master plan of the capital city being prepared by the two Singapore firms, Surbana International Consultants and Jurong International.
“During his visit to Singapore, the chief minister will participate in a series of interactive sessions with the developers of the capital city’s master plan. As the government has successfully procured 33,000 acres of land for the new capital, during the meetings, Naidu will once gain place before them his dreams about the core capital city,” said source.
According to the draft master plan, the proposed capital region will be spread across approximately 7,325 sq km within the Vijayawada-Guntur-Tenali-Mangalgiri limits. The core capital will extend up to 125 sq km.
In the 33,000 acres of procured land, the government will first develop the core capital by 2018.
“We want to construct the core capital in the first phase which will house all important buildings such as Assembly, Secretariat and Raj Bhavan in an area of 7,500 acres,” social welfare minister Ravela Kishore Babu, said.
According to him, the remaining 25,500 acres will be used for laying six-lane roads and setting up of parks in the core capital.
“The Singapore firms are expected to submit the master plan by May-end. Once the master plan is released, the state government will finalise the date for laying the foundation stone for the capital city. Naidu wants to start the construction work before June 2,” said another minister.